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Authors Posts by Cindi Hobbes

Cindi Hobbes

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care

Monday, April 20, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT 
Register Here

Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care

Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children’s Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College.

Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager

Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making.

Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications.

Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children’s Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to:

  • Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization;
  • Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families;
  • Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and
  • Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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The Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) has completed the Mass Claims Adjustment for all PAID CLAIMS of Early Intervention (EI) services that contain a date of service between July 1, 2025 – March 8, 2026 and were filed on or before March 8, 2026.

Due the high volume of claims, the Mass Claims Adjustment was processed in daily batches with a summary of claims below:

  • Week 1: March 16, 2026
    • Claims Adjusted for Speech Therapy
    • Claims Adjusted for Occupational Therapy
    • Claims Adjusted for Physical Therapy
  • Week 2: March 23, 2026
    • Claims Adjusted for Special Instruction
    • Claims Adjusted for Audiology/Evaluation/Teaming
    • Claims Adjusted for Service Coordination

A complete review of the Mass Claims Adjustment was performed during the week of March 30, and a final batch of claims were processed on April 7, representing claims with a date of services of July 1, 2025.

Reminder of Next Steps:

  • Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, file NEW claims on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025.
  • Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, adjust claims filed on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025, if the OLD fee schedule was used.

IMPORATANT:

As expected, OCDEL reports that there are many ICNs that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment. The Bureau is preparing a document for each County to distribute to their contracted providers that includes the original ICN that did not successfully Mass Adjust. Detailed instructions will be included with this document for how the Infant Toddler program and EI Provider can work together to resolve the claims errors. After successful resolution of the claims error, providers will be responsible for performing their own Claims Adjustment for the claims that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment.

View the following links for more information:

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Friday, April 10 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to complete and submit nominations for the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) Advisory Council and RHTP Rural Care Collaboratives (RCC).

Advisory Council (Statewide): This is a not a decision-making body.
The Advisory Council will provide subject matter expertise (SME) to the RCCs. The Council’s feedback is intended to inform and enhance RCC regional plans to ensure planned projects have the best chance of succeeding and will be sustainable after the 5-year RHTP funding is no longer available.

  • Meeting Cadence: The Advisory Council will meet once a month during the RCC plan development period. Once plans are solidified, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly to help address implementation concerns.
  • Council Member Expectations: Provide technical assistance (TA) to the RCCs in the member’s identified area of expertise. TA can be provided in multiple formats. This could be open discussion during RHTP meetings, written questions and answers, or a more hands-on knowledge transfer.
  • Conflict of Interest: If chosen for the Advisory Council, members must provide their formal CV for documentation, a brief bio, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest also must be communicated verbally during meetings and TA communication with RCCs.

The Advisory Council needs SME representation in:

  • Aging and Access
  • Behavioral Health
  • EMS and Transportation
  • Technology and Infrastructure
  • Maternal Health
  • Workforce

Rural Care Collaboratives (Regional): This is a planning body.
There will be 8 RCCs established with the purpose of:

  • Identifying regional priorities based on healthcare gaps;
  • Developing a regional plan to address prioritized needs; and
  • Recommending/identifying projects to the RHTP interagency project team to operationalize the regional plan that works towards Pennsylvania’s identified outcomes.

Complete the RHTP Advisory Council and RCC Nomination form here.

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On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–1 against a Colorado law that prohibited licensed mental health professionals from providing “conversion therapy” to minors. The case, Chiles v. Salazar, centered on whether the state could restrict certain counseling conversations aimed at changing a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Key points of the decision:

  • The Court held that Colorado’s law violated the First Amendment, concluding it restricted counselors’ speech based on viewpoint.
  • The majority, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, said the statute regulated what therapists could say, which triggered strict constitutional scrutiny.
  • The Court determined the state’s attempt to frame the ban as regulation of professional conduct was insufficient because the therapy involved speech rather than physical treatment.
  • Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the lone dissent, arguing states should be able to regulate harmful healthcare practices and protect minors.

The ruling may affect similar bans in more than 20 other states, putting them at risk of legal challenges. Supporters say the decision protects free speech and religious expression in counseling. Critics, including medical and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, warn that it could weaken protections for youth from practices widely considered harmful.

View Pennsylvania’s stance on conversion therapy.

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care

Monday, April 20, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT 
Register Here

Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care

Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children’s Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College.

Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager

Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making.

Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications.

Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children’s Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to:

  • Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization;
  • Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families;
  • Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and
  • Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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Use Your Voice Banner, Icon and Concept. Block letters on bright orange background.

Message from the Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL):

Review & Comment Period Now Open for the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C Grant Application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program

  • Available for review beginning on March 30, 2026
  • Comment Period Open on April 1 – May 8, 2026

Each year the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides access and opportunity for interested parties, including families, EI providers, and other professionals, to review and make comments on the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026.

Anyone who would like to review the proposed grant application can find the document at: Early Intervention Services or Early Intervention on the right side menu of the web pages. Hard copies can also be requested by emailing or by calling 717-346-9320.

To ensure all families, professionals and other Early Intervention stakeholders throughout our system have access to the application and are provided with opportunity to comment, we are providing you with a few reminders to ensure wide distribution of the information, specifically for those who may not have computer access to provide input.

Strategies to ensure access to the draft application include:

  • Sharing the email and its content with your Local Interagency Coordinating Councils to assist with its distribution. Please encourage them to share with those who may not always have web access to review or provide comment.
  • Encourage service coordinators to share the information from the email with families using the preferred method of communication identified by families. Highlighting how families can receive a print copy of the application and how they can submit comment would be beneficial to ensure appropriate reach to all stakeholders.

Opportunities to provide public comment from April 1 – May 8, 2026 include:

  • Visit Part C Grant Public Comment. This link will allow for online comment opportunity.
  • Submitting written comments regarding the proposed grant application can be directed to Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, ATTN: Public Comments for Part C Grant Application, 607 South Drive, 4th Floor Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA 17120 or via email.

If you need an accommodation or assistance to review the proposed grant application or to submit comments, please contact via email or by calling 717-346-9320.

Comments will be accepted through May 8, 2026. All comments will be reviewed and considered by the Department before submitting the final grant application.

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The 2025/26 Budget signed by Governor Josh Shapiro included an additional $13.2 million in state funding for Early Intervention services, with $10 million of this funding specifically targeting provider rates. Last month, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) released Announcement EI 26-03 and the 2025/26 Fee Schedule, which included a 7% rate increase for Early Intervention services, with some exceptions.

This week, OCDEL announced next steps for a coordinated mass adjustment for processed and paid Early Intervention claims for services delivered in Fiscal Year 2025/2026. The adjustment process will begin the week of March 16, 2026; OCDEL did not give a timeline for completion.

The notice reads:

The Office of Child Development & Early Learning is preparing to perform a Mass Claims Adjustment for all PAID CLAIMS of Early Intervention services that contain a date of service between 7/1/25 – 3/8/26 and were filed on or before 3/8/26. The adjustment process will begin the week of 3/16/26. Due to the high volume of claims, they will be processed in batches. OCDEL is committed to providing updates on the progress of the mass adjustment throughout the week.   

Any providers with paid claims that contain a date of service between 7/1/25 – 3/8/26 and were filed on or before 3/8/26 do not need to process their own claims adjustments. When the Mass Claims Adjustment is completed, providers will receive Payment Files and RAs (as applicable) displaying a new ICN beginning with 52. A uniform “billed amount” is being applied to this special Mass Adjustment of $1,000. All claims will correctly “cut-back” to the new Fiscal Year 2025-2026 rates.

Providers are responsible for the following:

  1. Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Fee Schedule — File NEW claims on or after 3/9/26 that contain a date of service on or after 7/1/25.
  2. Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Fee Schedule — Adjust claims filed on or after 3/9/26 that contain a date of service on or after 7/1/25 if the OLD fee schedule was used

While it is not recommended that providers submit their own Claims Adjustments for PAID CLAIMS of Early Intervention services that contain a date of service between 7/1/25–3/8/26 and were filed on or before 3/8/26, this will not impact the OCDEL initiated Mass Claims Adjustment. 

For OCDEL initiated Mass Claims Adjustments, denied claims will be reported directly from our MMIS provider to OCDEL. In the unlikely event of a Mass Claims Adjustment denial, an OCDEL team member will reach out to the County in which your claims denied to coordinate corrections. 

OCDEL would like to remind providers of the timely filling of all claims.

Timely Filing

The regulation at 55 Pa. Cde § 1101.68 (relating to invoicing for services) establishes requirements for submitting claims for services rendered. Early Intervention evaluations, IFSP services and Service Coordination claims are all required to follow this regulation.

There are only a few exceptions that are permitted which are related to PELICAN-EI record issues when there is a change of the child’s MCI or a record change for an adoption. OCDEL is not permitted to allow payment for claims submitted beyond the 180-day regulatory timelines for reasons including but not limited to provider billing errors, billing software issues or personnel vacancies/absences. 

Any claims filed after the 180-day filing limit will result in a suspended status. When this happens, an email must be sent immediately to [email protected] with the ICN for the suspended claim and a description for the system reason. If an email regarding the suspended claim(s) is not received, the claim will be automatically denied. 

Please forward this message to your contracted providers and direct any questions to your assigned EI Advisor.

OCDEL would like to remind providers of the opportunity to receive claims processing training Gainwell Technologies.

Gainwell Technologies offers PROMISe™ enrollment and billing training for Early Intervention providers. Accessing these training courses is a good opportunity for all Early Intervention providers to be supported in implementing accurate enrollment and billing practices.

PROMISe™ Provider Education & Training:

Webinar recordings are available on the website related to:

  • How to Submit 180 Day Electronic Submissions and ACN Electronic Attachments
  • How to Submit Revalidations, Reactivations, and Change Request Applications

Provider Portal Training on the topics listed below are also offered on request. Training is conducted via a virtual room (VR) and can be requested via email.

Providers should please include the following information when making a request: 13-digit Provider Number, Provider name, Contact name and phone number:

  • Review of PROMISe™ Portal including registration
  • Eligibility Verification
  • Claim completion review (new, adjustments and voids)
  • Claim Inquiry Search
  • Enrolled Provider Search
  • ERA and EFT Enrollment
  • Review of Remittance Advice Statement
  • Enrollment Information
  • Review of DHS Website including fee schedule, MA regulation, MA Bulletins and Provider Quick Tips

Questions should be directed to the County in which services are contracted. 

Visit here for more information on Claims Processing Steps. Contact Cindi Hobbes if you have any questions.

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An Overview of Sexuality & Disability in Pediatrics
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MST; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST
Register Here

A Discipline Specific Approach to Sexuality & Disability in Pediatrics
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MST; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST
Register Here

Presenters:
Amanda Appel, MD, MPH (Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine)
Amanda Chestnut, MS, OTR/L, BCP (Occupational Therapy)
Alison Colbert, PhD (Neuropsychology)
Caroline Freer, CCC-SLP (Speech Therapy)
Carolyn Kelley, DPT, PCS (Physical Therapy)
Ann Lantagne, PhD (Rehab Psychology)
Christine Petranovich, PhD (Neuropsychology)

Led by Amanda Appel, MD, MPH, a pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, this engaging team will discuss the multi-disciplinary facets of discussing sexuality with children with disabilities.

Objectives — Part 1: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Understand disparities in reproductive health care and sexual health education for individuals with disabilities;
  • Understand the importance of addressing reproductive health and sexual dysfunction for patients with disabilities; and
  • Apply the information and feel empowered to start conversations with patients and their families about sex.

Objectives — Part 2: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Have an increased awareness of sexuality as a component of holistic care;
  • Understand discipline-specific considerations related to sexuality and disability;
  • Learn practical guidance to promote interdisciplinary collaboration; and
  • Apply the information and feel empowered to start conversations with patients and their families about sex.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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An Overview of Sexuality & Disability in Pediatrics
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MST; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST
Register Here

A Discipline Specific Approach to Sexuality & Disability in Pediatrics
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MST; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST
Register Here

Presenters:
Amanda Appel, MD, MPH (Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine)
Amanda Chestnut, MS, OTR/L, BCP (Occupational Therapy)
Alison Colbert, PhD (Neuropsychology)
Caroline Freer, CCC-SLP (Speech Therapy)
Carolyn Kelley, DPT, PCS (Physical Therapy)
Ann Lantagne, PhD (Rehab Psychology)
Christine Petranovich, PhD (Neuropsychology)

Led by Amanda Appel, MD, MPH, a pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, this engaging team will discuss the multi-disciplinary facets of discussing sexuality with children with disabilities.

Objectives — Part 1: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Understand disparities in reproductive health care and sexual health education for individuals with disabilities;
  • Understand the importance of addressing reproductive health and sexual dysfunction for patients with disabilities; and
  • Apply the information and feel empowered to start conversations with patients and their families about sex.

Objectives — Part 2: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Have an increased awareness of sexuality as a component of holistic care;
  • Understand discipline-specific considerations related to sexuality and disability;
  • Learn practical guidance to promote interdisciplinary collaboration; and
  • Apply the information and feel empowered to start conversations with patients and their families about sex.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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